Page 40 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

I shake my head. Tony probably suspects that we’re dating. He assumes that’s the news. We wisely removed our rings before getting off the plane since we weren’t sure whether we’d be picked up by a driver or family.

The homes in the neighborhood we grew up in each sit on several acres. The wide-open space makes it feel like we’re in the middle of nowhere, even though we’re only an hour outside Manhattan. It’s an exclusive area, though, and every homeowner here is makingbillions.

Tony stops in front of the massive gates at the entrance to the neighborhood. A hidden camera scans the car—the license plate and even the number of occupants—before they slowly swing open.

The road in is lined with trees for the first mile. As it opens up, we come upon the first house—or I should say property, since the house isn’t visible from the road. I’ve never met the people who live there. Over the years, my brothers and I made up stories about who it mightbe. Asher, my eldest brother, is convinced it’s owned by a European prince or something. While Roman, my baby brother, thinks it must be a spy, since we’ve never once seen any sign of life on the property—not even staff. I have a hard time believing a spy would have that kind of money, but who knows.

When we finally get to the driveway that leads up to my dad’s house, Tony stops the car to wait for yet another gate. Not only is the entire neighborhood fully gated, but so is every individual house.

He follows the curve of the driveway and pulls up in front of the massive house. Growing up, this was all I knew. For the longest time, I had no idea that the vast majority of people don’t live in houses this size. Even I don’t understand why anyone needs a home so large. Now that I’ve been out on my own, I can’t imagine ever living in a place the size of a shopping mall, no matter how much money I have.

“Thanks, Tony,” Rosie says to him, getting out of the car.

He waits until I’ve climbed out too before he asks, “Should I unload your luggage here, Mr. Hendricks?”

The question stops me in my tracks. Stupidly, I didn’t even think about what will be expected after we tell our families we’re married. I’ve had too much other shit on my mind to worry about how strange it will look if we stay in separate houses.

Fuck.

“Yeah, you can leave it here.” There’s a good chance I’ll have to throw it in my car when we head to Rosie’s family’s house, but I know better than to make this decision on my own.

Ice slithers down my spine.

We’remarried.

Not dating.

They’re going to set us up in a bedroom together. Why wouldn’t they?

The idea of sharing a whole bed with Rosie has me spiraling.

I’m borrowing trouble, though, so I shove those thoughts away.

Regardless, I stick to my decision. This way, I can prolong the inevitable. If I told him he didn’t need to leave it here, then his suspicions would be confirmed, and I have no doubt he’d run right to Rosie’s dad. At least this way, he can’t be totally sure.

“All right,” he says, mistrust gleaming in his eyes.

Rosie and I head for the front door, careful to keep almost two feet of space between us.

The door opens before we get to the top of the stairs, and Roman comes running out with a hoot of joy.

But it’s not me he’s happy to see.

He throws his arms around Rosie, almost tackling her to the ground.

Jealousy burns in my chest. Not because he’s touching Rosie, and I’m hit with a wave of possessiveness over her. It definitely can’t be that. No, I’m jealous because he’smybrother, yet he’s more excited to see her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he asks, grasping her upper arms and steadying her before she falls.

I narrow my eyes on where he’s holding her, even though she’s got her feet firmly planted on the ground.

“This one dragged me along.” She tosses a thumb at me.

My lip curls.

Roman chuckles, running his fingers through his shaggy blond hair. His is a shade darker than mine. Wavier too.

“You mean to tell me you two have kissed and made up after what…? Five years?”

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